Alain Gomis, from a modest background, discovered cinema through Westerns on television and his school’s film club. He instinctively understood the language of cinema. Despite being rejected by La Fémis and the Louis-Lumiére National Higher School, he has since had his revenge. In cinema, he entered through the side door. With a Bachelor’s in Art History and a Master’s in Film Studies, he secured an internship with a Burkina Faso filmmaker’s production company, Idrissa Ouedraogo. A decisive experience that led to his first feature film, “L’Afrance (2001).” The French-Senegalese filmmaker has established himself in the contemporary cinematic landscape with his immersive, sensorial cinema that intertwines the political and the intimate.
Presented in competition at the Berlinale 2026, “Dao,” his seventh feature film, straddles fiction and documentary. Gomis intertwines Guinea-Bissau and the Parisian suburbs, exploring weddings and funeral rituals through the characters Gloria and her daughter Nour. Memory, mourning, and the quest for peace unfold in a nearly three-hour journey, bridging politics and personal experiences.
Gomis aims to provoke encounters through global stories in cinema, creating a shared intimacy among viewers. His latest film “Dao” blurs the lines between fiction and reality, challenging perceptions and beliefs. With a hybrid filming approach, Gomis blends scripted scenes with improvisation, allowing for authentic moments to emerge on screen.
Gomis’s unique approach to filmmaking involves a mix of professional actors, amateurs, and even his own family members. By embracing improvisation and authenticity, he creates an environment where genuine emotions and stories can emerge. With a desire to erase boundaries between cinematic techniques and personal expression, Gomis’s films become a space for genuine human connection and storytelling.
